Rail-joint.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

C. H. STEPHENS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION TILED AUG.17, 1905.

Inventor Attorneys CHARLES H. STEPHENS, OF BARTLETT, TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed August 17,1905. Serial No. 274,620.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs H. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bartlett, in the county of Williamson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Rail Joint, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-joints, and has for an object to provide a joint embodying new and improved features of rigidity, durability, and efficiency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-joint embodying a tie plate or base provided with a longitudinal groove to seat the base of the rail and with a spring splicebar and fish-plate rigidly secured to the base and gripping the side of the rail and under the shoulders of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail joint embodying new and improved means for preventing low joints, the up-and-down play of rail ends, and to prevent dipped and battered joints.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawin s, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view 0 the improved rail joint. Fig. 2 is a view of the improved rail-joint in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the rail-joint with the extension-flanges of the base omitted. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the rail-joint with the base-flanges omitted.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several vlews.

The improved rail-joint forming the subject-matter of this application comprises the members A and B, proportioned to occupy opposite sides of a rail and cooperate with each other. The member A comprises the tie plate or base 10 with a flange 11 and a splice-bar 12, connected by the inte ral por tion 13. The splice-bar 12 is curved laterally away from the rail 14, as at 15, and is provided with an angular edge 16, proportioned to fit under the shoulder of the rail. The connecting portion 13 is proportioned to fit l l l l l and embrace one side of the base of the rail and along the edge of the base 10 opposite a flange 17 is upturned proportioned to seat the rail and having its upper ed e beveled, as at 18, to form a continuation o the bevel of the rail-base. The lower side of the flange 17 is beveled, as at 19, to form with the bevel 18 the knife-like edge 20.

The member B comprises a fish-plate 21, shaped similar to the splice-bar 12 with an angularly-disposed flange 22. The flange 22 is provided in its under side with a roove 23 of proper shape to receive and em race the edge 20. The flange 22 is provided with an extension 24, corresponding with the extension 11, and spike-receiving notches 25 are formed along the edges of each. The splicebar 12 and fish-plate 21 are provided with openings spaced to register with the usual openings adjacent the ends of the rails and through which bolts 26 are inserted and nuts 27 placed thereon.

It will be obvious that the tightening of the nuts 27 upon the bolts 26 will draw the edge 20 firmly within the groove 23 and that a continued tightening will compress the curved splice-bar 12 and fish-plate 21 and force the upper angular edges firmly under the shoulders of the rail and the lower edges firmly against the base of the rail, thus firmly clamping and supporting the abutting ends. The splice-bar and fish-plate being constructed of spring material also obviates the necessity of using nut-locks to hold the nuts and bolts tight at all times.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. The combination with a rail, of a splicebar engaging one side of the rail and provided with a lateral extension spaced from the adjacent portion of the splice-bar to form a pocket for the reception of the base of the rail, said extension being provided with a terminal upwardly-projecting flange defining a shoulder adapted to engage the adjacent longitudinal edge of the base of the rail and having its upper and lower faces converging toward the free end of the extension, a mating splice-bar engaging the opposite side of the rail and having a correspondinglyshaped groove formed therein for the reception of the flange, and means for clamping the splice-bars to the rail and in engagement with each other.

2. The combination with a rail, of a splicebar having one end thereof bowed and engaging one side of the rail and its opposite end provided with a lateral extension spaced from the adjacent portion of the splice-bar to form a pocket for the reception of the base of the rail, said extension being provided with a terminal upwardly-projecting.flange defining a vertical shoulder adapted to engage the adjacent longitudinal edge of the base of the rail and having its upper and lower faces inclined in opposite direction toward the free end of the extension, a mating splice-bar having a bowed portion for engagement with the opposite side of the rail and provided with a longitudinal groove corresponding in shape to the flange and adapted to receive the latter, and bolts passing through the rail and bowed portions ofthe splice-bars for clamping said splice-bars to the rail and in engagement with each other. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. STEPHENS. Witnesses:

E. D. BOZEMAN, R. A. WALKER. 

